About

Lambayeque

Peru

Vessel, 700 – 900

On View

Earthenware

Dimensions: 8 × 5 1/2 in. (20.3 × 14 cm)

Gift of Robert Drapkin, 2006.95

These two vessels show Lord Naymlap, the mythological founder of the early Lambayeque culture of Northern Peru. He is identified as having a human face with slanted eyes, facial tattoos, and ear spools. The small dots under his eyes are tears—symbolic of rain as he is the provider of water. He is often surrounded by other figures representing his descendants. After Lord Naymlap’s death, one of his descendants angered the gods and as punishment the gods sent heavy rains for thirty days which killed many of the Lambayeque people.